Here at Green Collar Manufacturing, we like to be open to all kinds of reports. Sure, if you were browse our posts from the past month, most would be positive and in support of green business. So today, to prove that I do not just see the world through green colored glasses, I thought it would be best to pass on this Associated Press article from this morning, announcing that Advent Solar of New Mexico would be laying off 68 workers.

“We regret having to release so many good employees, but we just won’t need manufacturing until next year,”
said Chief Executive Officer Peter Green.

It is important to note, however, that Advent handed down the layoffs to increase research on developing a larger solar cell and plans on rehiring solar manufacturers again next year.

I guess what happens at Advent is yet to be seen and hopefully the laid off workers will be rewarded for their skills in the solar industry. As noted in previous posts, trained solar workers are high in demand in certain areas, plans to step up renewable energy production continue to develop.

In fact just this month in New Mexico, according to Clean Technica.com,

“Schott, AG, broke ground on a facility that will manufacture solar PV cells and receivers…(creating) 350 jobs in the short term and 1,500 jobs when the plant is running to capacity. New Mexico has a Renewable Portfolio Standard, requiring that a portion of the state’s energy production must come from renewable sources.”

So, despite this week’s cuts, solar manufacturing in New Mexico should get back to normal very soon.

“‘Green-collar jobs’ are probably overall a net loss to the economy. If the government is saying that people have to use wind power or have to use ethanol, that means that they’ll be using less electricity or less gasoline from conventional sources. So those new jobs in those new industries will be displacing old jobs in old industries.”

But I’ve also previously read this:

“Green jobs are the jobs of the future, not just because they pay well and can’t be outsourced…and not just because they’ll help strengthen our economy and lift up our middle class. But because they’ll help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and save this planet for our children.”

So now I’m thinking, surely both make valid points, and obviously I agree with the second one. Green jobs can win because just talking about it is changing the way we consume oil and fossil fuels. Reducing the ways we waste in daily life just performing normal activities is affordable and positive. But seeing devastation occur and famine strike and scientists conclude that the environment is headed down a dangerous path won’t go unnoticed. In the end, the foundations of our economy will decide. Will we fall and recover or will we exceed and prevail?